By Olivier Marquais

Programmable contracts may revolutionise commercial transactions insofar as they create legally binding relations and are enforceable in a suitable dispute resolution forum. The use of computer programming is likely to give rise to technologically complex disputes that the courts of justice and non-specialised alternative dispute resolution service providers will not be equipped to handle.

We suggest the creation of a Blockchain Dispute Resolution Authority to administer distributed ledger technology and programmable contracts related disputes, pursuant to industry tailored rules of procedure and with the assistance of technological and legal experts.